[Buddha-l] A New Crime

[F.K. Lehman (F.K.L. Chit Hlaing)]

Alex Wilding said: What a shame that after two-and-a-half millennia, 
the Buddhists aren't a bit
more grown up. Why make general accusations about 'the Buddhists'? 
The bill is being put forward by a ridiculous national Government; in 
the name of Buddhism, no doubt,  and with some support by a Buddhist 
NATIONALIST electorate, perhaps. What it shows is that ANY idea, any 
GOOD idea, theory, invention,. discovery ... can and is likely to be 
misused by dangerous idiots in their search for power. They can 
misuse it by appealing to general sentiments that, in themselves, 
have got nothing to do with the fundamental idea (here, Sasana). And 
surely not everyone who, for whatever reasons, personal or social or 
traditional, claims adherence to Buddhism can be supposed to 
understand the doctrine, or to object to its use in politics even if 
they do understand the Doctrine.
-- 
F. K. L. Chit Hlaing
Professor
Department of Anthropology
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign